2008-Feb-19 Quick Clearance Work Group
Indiana Quick Clearance Work Group
Indianapolis Traffic Management Center
February 19th, 2008 9:00 am to 11:00 am
GENERAL NOTES
Major Melville of ISP started off the meeting with introductions by all members.
Karen Stippich with FHWA gave a brief explanation of the items each committee needs to produce through August. The committee assignments can be found on the website under “Committees" or by clicking here.
Each committee reported out on their current state of practice and the barriers associated with it for each of their topic areas. The committee reports follow the general notes notes.
Jay Wasson demonstrated the new Indiana Quick Clearance website. The web address is http://indianaquickclearance.org/. The website will be used a communication tool by the Quick Clearance Working Group. All committee documentation will be posted along with meeting notes and such. The website should be the central repository for Quick Clearance information. Please send items to post on the website to one of the steering committee members for posting. Specifically we want to post sub committee meeting dates.
The meeting closed with each all committee members meeting with there assigned groups.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday March 18th, 2008 9:00 am at the Indianapolis Traffic Management Center.
Red Group
Captain Schroder with the Indiana State Police gave the first presentation for the Red Group.
1. Driver Vehicle Removal
a. Current Practice
b. Barriers and Obstacles
-Public awareness
-Lack of unified message
-Applicable statutes
-Education of public
The Red Group is currently working on clarification of state statute 9-26-1-2, defining what an injury is and any penalty that may occur for removing vehicles.
2. Speed Limits in Construction Zones
a. Current Practice
- Generally reduced to 45mph
b. Barriers and Obstacles
- Safety
- Construction/Maintenance
The Red Group feels that the current practice of reducing the speed limit in construction zones to 45 mph on the interstate system should be left the same.
Major Melville advised the group to look into items such as how much of an impact a concrete barrier wall can withhold and other safety factors.
Dick Hayworth with DOR asked if anything was being done regarding emergency vehicle access in a construction zone.
3. Oversize/Overweight Movements
a. Current Practice
b. Barriers and Obstacles
- Over 200,000 Oversize/Overweight vehicles are currently run thru the state annually.
- Over 700 super loads are run thru the state annually.
- Current permit system is not automated.
- DOR vs. INDOT
- Lack of coordination
- Lack of escort training
The Red Group has concerns with the fact that the escort vehicles that lead these super loads thru the state are not required to have any training or certification. This often leads to the vehicles being sent off route which can lead to difficulties with bridge heights.
The group also suggested that the fines be increased for violators.
Yellow Group
1. Abandoned Vehicles
a. Current Practice
- Current law protects towing companies and public agencies from liability when towing an abandoned vehicle 9-21-16-5.
- When is a vehicle considered abandoned?
- Time requirements
- Most states consider a vehicle abandoned if it constitutes a traffic hazard.
- Some states have changes there parking statutes to disallow any parking on the shoulders, medians, ramps, and all other right-of-way along interstates. Exceptions are made for a “brief” duration due to an emergency.
b. Barriers
- We would need to clarify what constitutes a traffic hazard or change traffic laws for the interstate.
- Reduce the time frame for vehicles left unattended.
- Ability to allow Hoosier Helpers or other agencies to request a tow.
- Change parking statutes.
The two hour rule expanded to I-465. Currently the official action applies to the Borman Expressway and inside I-465.
Trucks parked on ramps is a major issue.
2. Hold Harmless Laws/Limited Liability
a. Current Practice
- Revise Indiana’s current law for removal of abandoned vehicles to apply to vehicles involved in crashes.
- Adapt laws similar to those used in other states to ensure that agencies are not held liable for vehicle removal.
- Modernization of internal policies.
- Is Legislation a barrier or excuse?
b. Barriers
- The need for legislation that would provide liability to all responders in the removal of vehicles and/or cargo from the interstate system.
What would insurance companies say regarding damage?
Any HAZMAT potential that occurs as a result of moving a vehicle.
3. Public-Private Towing Agreements
a. Current Practice
- Towing agreements are connected to hold harmless laws.
- Public-private agreements usually fit into three categories.
* Rotational lists
*Zone based licensing
*City/Region based licensing
- Public-Private agreements are more common in urban areas.
- Closest is quickest.
b. Barriers
- Strict wrecker rotation lists do not work in rural areas.
- Use of a zone based service.
- Payment of towing services thru government agencies.
Green Group
1. Crash Investigation
a. Current Practice
- No reconstruction
- Tape reconstruction
- Laser reconstruction
b. Barriers
- Unnecessary reconstruction
- Time consuming equipment
- Limited number of re-constructionists
- Expense of faster equipment
- Limited number of personnel in each district available to do crash reconstruction.
- Use of photogrammetry.
What criteria have to be met for a crash to be reconstructed?
- Loss of life
- Monetary loss
2. Hazardous Spill Guidelines
a. Current practice
- Fire Department generally takes care of initial containment.
- No follow up spill response by spiller.
- Complete day of spill response
- Return at later date for clean up
b. Barriers
- Lack of knowledge of who the responsible party is.
- What clean up is necessary.
- Slow action by spiller.
- Limitation of authorities hiring – billing purposes.
- Limitations of policies.
- Limitation of funds.
3. Emergency Scene Management
a. Current Practice
- Block lanes for responder safety.
- Multiple responder vehicles.
b. Barriers
- Road closure risks are not common knowledge.
* Secondary crashes
- Weighing off scene with on scene hazards.
- Slowness to come off service from scene.
- Vehicles crowding scene.
- Inability to disregard call.
- Transitions (rush to open vs. move to MUTCD)
